OT -when do toddlers start to count?

DS was delayed, so I have no basis for comparison. Is it normal for an 18 month old to count to 3, recognize several letters and the sounds they make, and be able to point to a color when asked to choose between two choices? To make it a hot topic, should parents push their kids to do all these things at an early age, or just let them do it when they want to? Does getting kids to learn this type of stuff earlier give them an advantage, or does it even out later on?

DS was delayed, so I have no basis for comparison. Is it normal for an 18 month old to count to 3, recognize several letters and the sounds they make, and be able to point to a color when asked to choose between two choices? To make it a hot topic, should parents push their kids to do all these things at an early age, or just let them do it when they want to? Does getting kids to learn this type of stuff earlier give them an advantage, or does it even out later on?

I don't honestly know when normal is but at 18 months my daughter could count to 20 say the alphabet and recognize her name. We pushed her to learn more and she pushed back, now at 3 she knows a little more but not as much as I thought she would. I'm of the opinion that pushing doesn't do a whole lot, fostering natural ability and helping would be more beneficial. But I'm also a firm believer that kids develop at their own pace and should be allowed to do so. So speaking from experience I wouldn't push.

I don't honestly know when normal is but at 18 months my daughter could count to 20 say the alphabet and recognize her name. We pushed her to learn more and she pushed back, now at 3 she knows a little more but not as much as I thought she would. I'm of the opinion that pushing doesn't do a whole lot, fostering natural ability and helping would be more beneficial. But I'm also a firm believer that kids develop at their own pace and should be allowed to do so. So speaking from experience I wouldn't push.

To the first question, yes I find that pretty normal, all 3 of my kids could count till 5 and memorise some letters as well as colours, shapes and bits of nursery rhymes.I think it's ok to push children to learn when they are very young, as long as they are happy with it. The attention span of a 2 or 3 year old is not the same than that of a 6 year old...

To the first question, yes I find that pretty normal, all 3 of my kids could count till 5 and memorise some letters as well as colours, shapes and bits of nursery rhymes.I think it's ok to push children to learn when they are very young, as long as they are happy with it. The attention span of a 2 or 3 year old is not the same than that of a 6 year old...

Ahh, thanks. I don't push my LO to learn things, I just read her some books that have numbers, letters, and colors (whenever she can sit still long enough). Also, she watches the hooked on phonics preschool video, and vintage sesame street from the 70s and 80s. It's different for me this time around, because DS was mostly nonverbal until almost 3, but it seems to have ended up evening out for him.

Ahh, thanks. I don't push my LO to learn things, I just read her some books that have numbers, letters, and colors (whenever she can sit still long enough). Also, she watches the hooked on phonics preschool video, and vintage sesame street from the 70s and 80s. It's different for me this time around, because DS was mostly nonverbal until almost 3, but it seems to have ended up evening out for him.

My 22-month-old counts to ten and recognizes every letter in the alphabet. We didn't push him to learn it, he took the initiative himself. We just encouraged it. At 18 months he was able to do about half the alphabet and count to three or five. Can't remember. I thought it was pretty extraordinary, but in talking to others, and now reading this, I don't think it is, lol.

My 22-month-old counts to ten and recognizes every letter in the alphabet. We didn't push him to learn it, he took the initiative himself. We just encouraged it. At 18 months he was able to do about half the alphabet and count to three or five. Can't remember. I thought it was pretty extraordinary, but in talking to others, and now reading this, I don't think it is, lol.

One of my 19 month olds counts to ten, sings the ABC song (poorly, but still), recognizes probably 10 letters and a few numbers ("9" is the current favorite, before that it was 1), and can name bunches of animals (panda, giraffe, koala, etc)

My other 19 month old says "uh-oh", "cat", and "car", has never pointed out a single letter or number, and identifies certain objects only by making their sounds - snake is "sssssss", bee is "zzzzzz", lion & dinosaur are both "rrrrrrrrrr", car is "bbbbbbb", plane is "mmmmmmmm".

I have no idea what is normal. They have both been recently evaluated, and according to the EI folks, they are both normal despite being completely opposite in cognition & speech.

Since they are twins, they both get the same attention and instruction, read the same books, sing the same songs - one has just grabbed the ball and ran with it, and the other is hanging back. Who knows? Even though they are twins, they are still two different kids developing in two different ways at two different rates....we let it be. They are who they are.

As far as pushing, I don't really subscribe to all that like with My Baby Can Read, flash cards, etc. We point out common objects in daily life and stories all the time, and they pick up on it at their own pace. My talker has learned his letters and numbers from these foam bath toys we keep around....he attaches to one or two each week, carries them around, and all I do is say "Hey, where's your Y? Purple 3 is over there" or count/sing ABC during dipe changes, etc and he takes it from there. I don't "force" anything.

One of my 19 month olds counts to ten, sings the ABC song (poorly, but still), recognizes probably 10 letters and a few numbers ("9" is the current favorite, before that it was 1), and can name bunches of animals (panda, giraffe, koala, etc)

My other 19 month old says "uh-oh", "cat", and "car", has never pointed out a single letter or number, and identifies certain objects only by making their sounds - snake is "sssssss", bee is "zzzzzz", lion & dinosaur are both "rrrrrrrrrr", car is "bbbbbbb", plane is "mmmmmmmm".

I have no idea what is normal. They have both been recently evaluated, and according to the EI folks, they are both normal despite being completely opposite in cognition & speech.

Since they are twins, they both get the same attention and instruction, read the same books, sing the same songs - one has just grabbed the ball and ran with it, and the other is hanging back. Who knows? Even though they are twins, they are still two different kids developing in two different ways at two different rates....we let it be. They are who they are.

As far as pushing, I don't really subscribe to all that like with My Baby Can Read, flash cards, etc. We point out common objects in daily life and stories all the time, and they pick up on it at their own pace. My talker has learned his letters and numbers from these foam bath toys we keep around....he attaches to one or two each week, carries them around, and all I do is say "Hey, where's your Y? Purple 3 is over there" or count/sing ABC during dipe changes, etc and he takes it from there. I don't "force" anything.

A average (read: no cognitive delays) child in an enriching and supportive environment will learn everything they need to know at their own pace. Learning is basically all they do, so letting them lead will go far and maintain their interest.

A average (read: no cognitive delays) child in an enriching and supportive environment will learn everything they need to know at their own pace. Learning is basically all they do, so letting them lead will go far and maintain their interest.

M oldest was walking at 7 month. My youngest at 9. Naturally we thought she would harder to potty train but she was actually potty trained 14 months sooner then my oldest was (age wise). My oldest just before 3, my youngest just before 2. Don't know if my refusal to buy diapers was influencing or not though.

M oldest was walking at 7 month. My youngest at 9. Naturally we thought she would harder to potty train but she was actually potty trained 14 months sooner then my oldest was (age wise). My oldest just before 3, my youngest just before 2. Don't know if my refusal to buy diapers was influencing or not though.

I don't push my son, totally encourage but no pushing. my sister in law pushes my niece and expects way too much from a 3 year old. that being said, everyone thinks my son is older because he is definitely smarter, counts higher, starting to write, speaks a lot more clearly and has about triple her vocabulary. each kid is different and it could be a coincidence but I don't think so.

I don't push my son, totally encourage but no pushing. my sister in law pushes my niece and expects way too much from a 3 year old. that being said, everyone thinks my son is older because he is definitely smarter, counts higher, starting to write, speaks a lot more clearly and has about triple her vocabulary. each kid is different and it could be a coincidence but I don't think so.

I didn't push my daughter, but I did teach her stuff all day long by playing games and making it fun. By 18 months she could count to 20 because we played hop scotch a lot, she new her abc's because we would sing it all the time, and she could count to 10 in Spanish from hop scotch as well. Now she is 6 and could care less to learn from me, when she is home from school she is done learning and that's it. I don't think anyone should push their kid but encourage it by making sure they enjoy it

I didn't push my daughter, but I did teach her stuff all day long by playing games and making it fun. By 18 months she could count to 20 because we played hop scotch a lot, she new her abc's because we would sing it all the time, and she could count to 10 in Spanish from hop scotch as well. Now she is 6 and could care less to learn from me, when she is home from school she is done learning and that's it. I don't think anyone should push their kid but encourage it by making sure they enjoy it

18 months is really early to think about pushing anything on kids. While some kids this age can do some of the objectives you list, others don't really even talk until they are 2... and that is completely normal. Create a stimulating learning environment around them but let them discover things. I wouldn't start pushing anything until they were quite a bit closer to school age if they hadn't picked up those basic concepts.

18 months is really early to think about pushing anything on kids. While some kids this age can do some of the objectives you list, others don't really even talk until they are 2... and that is completely normal. Create a stimulating learning environment around them but let them discover things. I wouldn't start pushing anything until they were quite a bit closer to school age if they hadn't picked up those basic concepts.

I don't think you should ever push. That makes learning a chore. I think you should provide high interest activities that also teach skills and if they have shown interest in something to foster that. I never pushed these things, but my four year old is like a sponge. He taught himself to read. If you are around him you would think I'm breaking out the flashcards all the time and pushing him because he's advanced. But that's just how he is, I encourage him with where he is, but don't push him.

I don't think you should ever push. That makes learning a chore. I think you should provide high interest activities that also teach skills and if they have shown interest in something to foster that. I never pushed these things, but my four year old is like a sponge. He taught himself to read. If you are around him you would think I'm breaking out the flashcards all the time and pushing him because he's advanced. But that's just how he is, I encourage him with where he is, but don't push him.

Threads like these make me uncomfortable. My son is three and can count and do letters and whatnot, and he is just starting to write. But seriously, who cares? If he didn't write until he is five, do I think it would make or break him? No. Nor do I expect certain things at certain times. He does things when he is ready. I would rather he is a happy pre schooler than I stressed one. I personally subscribe to "kids learn through play". So phonics and baby reading is just crap IMO. If they don't comprehend, who is it satisfying- the parent making their kids do party tricks or the kid who has idea what the heck phonics are?

Threads like these make me uncomfortable. My son is three and can count and do letters and whatnot, and he is just starting to write. But seriously, who cares? If he didn't write until he is five, do I think it would make or break him? No. Nor do I expect certain things at certain times. He does things when he is ready. I would rather he is a happy pre schooler than I stressed one. I personally subscribe to "kids learn through play". So phonics and baby reading is just crap IMO. If they don't comprehend, who is it satisfying- the parent making their kids do party tricks or the kid who has idea what the heck phonics are?

There's no real "normal" with that. For instance, my 2 1/2 year old is "advanced" but only in some ways. She can count, abc's, knows letters, blah blah blah. But she can't figure out how to pedal on her trike yet, (which a neighbor kid her age CAN do but can't count), and she refuses to use a potty (which another neighbor kid her age can also do). So what I think it boils down to is this: they're all going to graduate high school knowing how to read, pedal a bike, and pee in a toilet, so all comparing does now is create anxious parents.

There's no real "normal" with that. For instance, my 2 1/2 year old is "advanced" but only in some ways. She can count, abc's, knows letters, blah blah blah. But she can't figure out how to pedal on her trike yet, (which a neighbor kid her age CAN do but can't count), and she refuses to use a potty (which another neighbor kid her age can also do). So what I think it boils down to is this: they're all going to graduate high school knowing how to read, pedal a bike, and pee in a toilet, so all comparing does now is create anxious parents.

Lots of people confuse reciting numbers in order with counting. Counting involves understanding the concept of numbers, not just the names. If your kid can say '1,2,3,4,5' but can't identify a pile of four blocks as 4, then they aren't counting. Sure they have memorized the words, but that's like a kid who can sing the alphabet but doesn't know what a letter is. I've seen lots of parents get thrown off here because they think junior is a genius when they don't understand numeracy.

Lots of people confuse reciting numbers in order with counting. Counting involves understanding the concept of numbers, not just the names. If your kid can say '1,2,3,4,5' but can't identify a pile of four blocks as 4, then they aren't counting. Sure they have memorized the words, but that's like a kid who can sing the alphabet but doesn't know what a letter is. I've seen lots of parents get thrown off here because they think junior is a genius when they don't understand numeracy.

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